Pencil.



Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

By @bbw/144, A TTOHNEYS H. RBIGHE.

PENCIL.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. '1, 1909.

W/TNESSES @www " UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

' HERMANN REICHE, 0F MILLSTON, NEW JERSEY.

rENcI'L.

Specification of Letters Patent. i' Patented Mar. 26, 191,2. Application tiled August 7, 1909. Serial No. 511,712.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known Vthat l, HERMANN REIonE, a citizen of the United Stat-es, anda resident 'of Millstonc, in the, county of Somerset and vention is to so construct the device that a flexible or plastic marking material may be employed. This material may be of such character that it operates to produce a mark withoutI being moistened, or it may be of any soluble material and the pencil may deliver va moistening liquid to the marking material While the latter ,is being used. The device may thus operate as an ordinary pencil or as a stylograph pen or as a fountain pen. By having the marking material in semiplastic form, a coil of great length may be stored within the body of the pencil and fed out 'as desired. This effects a great saving in the marking material, as there will be no short waste pieces and there will be no loss through breakage, as is the case Where brittle marking material is employed. The moistening material may be pure Water, so that no difficulty will be encountered in refilling with liquid whenever desired.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, and in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a pencil constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is aside elevation of one end of the pencil, with the pen point in operative position; Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections o-n the lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of pen point, and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the device showing a slightly modified construction. A

Various different forms may be designed to embody the main features of my invention, and the details of such structures may be varied Within wide range. It is therefore tobe understood that the form hereinafter.described in detail constitutes merely one embodiment of the invention.

In the specific form illustrated, I employ a substantially cylindrical hollow body 10, having a conical or tapered end 11, terminating at the point of the pencil and surroundedat the point by an annular ridge or rim 12. The opposite4 or rear end of the body is closed by a plug 13, which has a central passage therethrough for receiving a tube or sleeve 14. At the inner end of the plug the passage may be somewhat enlarged to orm a stutling box, and threaded to receive a gland 15 encircling the tube or sleeve 14 and preventing the escape of liquid from the interior of the body. The outer end or face of the plug 13 is roughened, as, for instance, by a series of ridges 16, and engages with an enlarged head or nut 17. This head or nut encircles the sleeve or tube 14 and is held against rotation in-respect to the tube by means of a key 18. The outer end of the tube 14 is threaded and receives a nut 19, by means of which the tube 14 may be held against inward lon'- gitudinal movement or permitted to move a limited distance,- as may be desired.

Within the body of the pencil and spaced therefrom is a container 20, adapted to receive the marking material. At the end of the container toward the point of the pencil the container is provided with an inwardlydirected flange 21 and a central aperture. A tube 22 extends through this aperture and terminates in an enlarged head or flange 23 Within the container and spaced from the flange 21 by a suitable packing. Threaded to the exterior of the tube 22 is a nut 24 liquid may be prevented from entering the p interior of the container 20 from the interior of the body 10. but, at the same time, the container and the tube 22 may have a relative rotation. The nut 24 may be held from loosening by a suitable locknut 25. Within the point of the pencil is a nozzle or delivery tube 26, substantially conical in form and held against rotation in respect to the conical end of the body by means of a key 27. This delivery nozzle has a passage therethrough in alinement Withthe passage through the tube 22 and of substantially the same diameter, and the tube 22 is rigidly secured tothe nozzle in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by being threaded thereinto and held by a lock nut 28.

The tube 22 extends to the interior of the container 20 and within the latter is the marking material 29 in the form ofl one or 40 34 into the container. Thus, when the outer cured within the container and has its delivery end adjacent the inlet end of the tube 22, so as to 'guide the marking material from the container to said tube. Theinner surface of the guide may be provided with longitudinal ridges or grooves to prevent rotation of the materia in respect to the guide, so that as the container and guide are rotated the material will be caused to rotate within the tube 22. At its inlet end this tube is provided with a series of threads 31, whlch engage with the marking material and vtend to advance the latter as said material is rotatedin respect to the tube. The opposite end of the container 20 is closed by a cap 32 having an inwardly-directed flange 33 engaging with-the outer surface of an outwardly-extending flange 34 'on' the sleeve or tube 14. Thus the sleeve may move inwardly into the container but its outward movement is limited. A spring 35 is dis- I posed between the gland 15 and the flange 34, so as to normally tend to draw the sleeve or tube 14 inwardly when the latter is released by loosening the outer nut 19.

Concentric with the `tube 14 is a second and inner tube 36, movable longitudinally of the tube 14 but held from rotation in respect thereto by a key 37 movable in a slot in the inner surface of the tube 14. `At its innermost end the tube 36 opens through a partition wall 38 and is rigidly secured thereto. The periphery of this' partition closely fits the inner surface of the wall of the container and is rigidly secured to the latter. A spring 39 is placed intermediate this partition 38 and the flange 34 of the tube 14 and normally tends to space them apart. This spring is somewhat weaker than the spring 35 which tends to force the flange nut 19 is rotated to permit the sleeve or tube 14 to move inwardlyT under the action of the spring 35, the spring 39 will cause the container 20 to move longitudinally of the outer casing.

' The nozzle 26 serves not only to direct and deliver the marking material, but it also serves as a valve for controlling the escape of iuid from the portion of the casing outside of the container 20. The lower tapered end of the casing has a conical seat adapted to receive the combined valve and nozzle 26,l

so that when the latter is moved toward the apex it prevents the escape of liquid from the casing, while when it is drawn back the liquid may freely escape around the marking material. Thus, the rotation of the nut 19 in respect to the nut 17 and the casing, controls the flow of fluid, While 'the rotation of the nut 17 and the nut 19 together and in respect to the casing, causes the advancement or retraction of the marking material within the container. The flanges or roughened surface 16 normally prevent the rotawithin said tube. 'lhe valve 40 is of larger;

diameter than the tube 36 and within the tube 14 are inwardly-extending projections which may engage with .the edges of the valve and lift it from its seat. When the tube 36 is moved outwardly in one direction, the valve 40 is permitted to seat, while when it is moved in the reverse direction, the valve is held away from its scat.

v '.Ihe valve 41 opens inwardly and lts valve seat extends outwardly a slight distance beyond the edge of the sleeve 14. The valve 40 controls the passage of air into the container 20, while the valve 41 controls the passage of air from the annular space surrounding the container. If desired, the valve 40 may be omitted entirely and the device constructed substantially as illustrated in Fig. 6. In this construction, the end bf the -tube 36a is closed and is secured to the end ofa capillary tube 44 of elastic material helieally coiled to form a compression spring. The outer end of this capillary tube is secured to the air valve 41, with its passage communicating with a passage throughJ the valve and stem. The tube connects the interior of the container 20 with the atmosphere, and, at the same time,` acts as a spring to seat. the valve 41.

- The annular space surrounding the container 20 and within the outer casing 10 is adapted to receive a liquid which will cooperate with the marking material to form an ink or to meisten thematerial and render it operative. Various different liquids may be usedv in this annular chamber dependent upon the nature of the marking material,

but in ordinary circumstances, I would use water. In orderto fill the annular liquid chamber, I first rotate the nut 17 in respect to the casing, so as to draw the marking material back into the tube 22. I then rotate the nut 1.9 so as to draw the sleeve out throughthe nut 17 and compress the spring 35, and draw the chamber 20 longitudinally to open the valve 26. The lower end of the pencil is then inserted in a vessel of Water and the water will freely enter past the valve 26- to the interior of the casing. In the meantime, the valve 40 will rest against' its seat and the valve 41 may be held open by pressure on the outer end of its valve stem. The air will thus escape as fast as the Water enters. The nut 19 may then be rotated to close the valve 26, and the valve 41 will close so that the Water cannot escape from the interior of the casing.

If it desired to use the markingmaterial in its nat-ural state 3nd Without the aidl of any moistening liqui theryalve 26 may be held against its seat by turnin the nut 19 andforcing the sleeve 14 into t e casing to compress the spring 39. If it is desired to use only a small quantity of moistening liquid, the nut 19 may be turned to such a position that the container-20 and valve 26 may move longitudinally of the casing and between the springs 35 and 39, by the pressure on the point-of the materialas the latter is being applied to the surface marked upon. The amount of pressure on the point of the material required to open the valve 26, may be controlled by varying the rela- 4tive tensions of the springs 35 andv 39.

In order to direct' the liquid to the mate- Vrial and to convert the pencil into a pen', I

provide a plurality of pairs of flexible strips 43, 44,a and 45. At their rearends, each of these strips isconnected to a sleeve 46 movable longitudinally of the casing and terminating in an annular flange or ring'47. An

outer casing 48 encircles the casing 10 and a portion of the tapered end 11, and holds the strips in position. Each of the strips has a transverse groove 49 adapted to engage with the annular bead or flange 12 at the point of the pencil. The two upper strips 45, 45 are longer than the other strips and these serve to form the pen point 50. The lower strips and the side strips when in operative position form with the upper strips, a chamber for feeding the liqu'id to the pen point.. When using t-he device as a pen, the strips are all moved toward the point of the pen by a relative movement of the sleeve 46 and the pen body. The strips slideI forwardly until the annular bead 12 enters the groove 49 of each of the strips, as indicated in Fig. 2. With the parts in this position, the device may be used solely as a pen and a writing fluid may be used in the annular chamber around the central container, or the plastic material may be fed from the central container and partially dissolved by the liquid within the chamber formed by the points of the several strips. In using the device as a pencil, the sleeve 46 may be moved back to the posit-ion indicated in Fig. l, and all of the strips will be ldrawn back away from the point of the pencil. The sleeve 48 serves to lock the strips in their position.

Instead of using the pen point formed of the several strips, I may. if desired, employ a separate removable point substantially as illustrated in Fig. 5. In this form vthere is a collar 50, having a plurality of separate spring arms 51 adapted to engage with the annular flange or bead 12 at the point of the pencil to hold this special pen point in position. The collar 50 would come adjacent the end of the pencil and the writing fluid delivered from the interior of the body would pass through the collar 50 and through a feeding tube 52 to the pen point 53 carried by said collar. The pen point 53 and feeder would operate substantially as the ordinary pen point and feeder of a fountam pen. y

The material may consist in tht main of the same substance as employed at present in ordinary pencils and similar marking devices, viz.; graphite, carbon, lime, crayon, colored pigments, aniline dyes, etc., with the addition of a suitable binder to cause the mass to become more or less flexible or elastic. If the material is to be used exclusively in a fountain pen, a soluble mucilaginous or glutinous binder might be used; but for use as a dry pencil, as a stylographic pen, or as a combination of pencil, stylographic pen and ,fountain pen, I prefer the addition of metallic lead to the mass, for the purpose of obtaining Hexibility. Y

The ingredients are mixed either cold or in a molten'state, highly compressed and ejected through dies in the 'shape of wire which may be wound or bent to fit the container. The mass may be made ductile by the admixture of soluble materials, which are in themselves elastic and brittle, but which in combination with the pigments and other ingredients, form a flexible, slightly elastic substance.

Whether using a metallic binder, as, for

' instance, lead, or a soluble one, the mass may be melted and intimately mixed, highly compressed and drawn into rods by being hydraulically ejected throughl orifices and ducts, which may be heated for fusing the surface of the material or drying and congealing the mass as it passes out; or the material may be tubular or made up of differentlayers, for instance, a central core of pigment surrounded by a metal shell deposited thereon electrically or chemically, or a central core simply coated by any suitable material, soluble or insoluble.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire vto secure by Letters Patent:

1. A pencil having a coil of flexible marking material therein.

2. A pencil having a chamber, a delivery nozzle, a coil of flexible marking material within said chamber; and means for delivering said flexible marking material from said chamber through said nozzle.

3. A pencil having a chamber, a delivery nozzle, a semi-plastic marking material coiled within said chamber; and means for delivering said marking material from said chamber through said nozzle.

'4. A pencil having a chamber for a semiplastic marking material, a separate chamber for a moistening material, and indefrom each of said chambers.

one for a marking material and one for ai moistening liquid, a delivery nozzle, and a non-rotatable longltudinally-movable nozzle for the marking material and serving by its longitudinal movement to control thedelivery of the moistening liquid.

y 8. A pencil having an inner rotatable chamber, a non-rotatable delivery conduit,

and means operating upon the relative rotation of the conduit and chamber for delivering material from the latter to the former.

9. A pencil havingtwo separate chambers, one for solid` material and one for liquid material, one oi. .said chambers being rotatable and longitudinally movable in ree spect to the other of said chambers and by said movements cont-rolling the delivery from both chambers.

10. A pencil having two separate chambers, one for liquid material and the other for solid material, one of said chambers being rotatable in respect to the other to control the delivery of one of said materials and bein longitudinally movable in respect to the oter chamber to control the delivery of thel other material.

11. A -pencil having'two separate chambers, one for a liquid material and the other for a solid material, one of-said chambers being rotatable in respect to the other chamber, to control the delivery of solid material, and longitudinally movable in respect to the other chamber to control the delivery of liquid material. I

livering said material from the 12. A pencil having two separate cham-' ing resiliently mounted in respect to the` other chamber to control the delivery 0f liquid material by pressure upon the'point of the pencil, and means for varying the tension of the resilient means.

14. A pencil having an inner rotatable container for a semi-plastic marking material, a non-rotatable delivery conduit, and means operating upon the rotation of, the container in respect to the conduit for decontainer through the conduit.

l5. A pencil having a chamber for a solid material, a chamber for a liquid material, and a plurality of members movable longitudinally of the pencil to lform a pen point for the liquid material and a receiver for the solid material.

16. A pencil having a substantially cylindrical body and a conical terminal portion,

a plurality of strips held in engagement with said cylindrical and conical portions, and means for moving said strips longitudinally to project them beyond the end of the conical portion and to serve as a and feeder.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence oi' two subscribing witnesses. y

HERMANN REICI-IE.

pen point Witnesses:

CLAIR W. FAIRBANK, JOHN P. DAVIS. 

